VIDEO: Unions rally in Somerset over pension changes (From This is The West Country)

About time the government did something about public sector pensions. From SCC`s own figures the council contributes over 15% to the the employee pension while on average the employee only contributes about 6%. Thats a big lot of our tax money funding other peoples pensions while those in the private sector including myself find it difficult to save anything at all.

If the council were just to match what the employee put in that would save over 20 million a year !!

Teachers - listen up!
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In 2009/10 - 37 UK Union bosses took home salaries of more than £100,000 per annum all paid by their members' subs every month! (source: Tax Payers' Alliance). Top earner was Derek Simpson of Unite earned a total package of £186,626 in 09/10!! Just think of that when you're moaning about County Council fat-cats.
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Champagne Socialism!

Our Councils have allowed taxpayers money to fund their employees pensions ..
Just like The MPs they have sat on top of the large pile ,getting fatter themselves with large salarys and pensions ,......Tell the leader of the County Council or Sedgemoor Council that they will lose their pension or have to work longer and pay more
It will always be the person at the bottom that suffers more and it seems that everyone in the UK accepts it .
The Country voted for the " Con " Government ...
In France they held protests against working longer past the present retirement age ...The Government there did a u turn !
Is there a EU law or Directive stopping this Government from increasing the Retirement age !?

No mention from the unions that the proposals being put forward by the current Government were tabled in a report by a LABOUR peer.
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The silence from Labour is deafening!

Whilst I agree that public sector pensions are in need of reform giving that
people are living longer and there is a shortage of public funds thanks to the
excesses of Blair and Brown the present government has seriously
mismanaged its approach thus leading to so much discontent. Government has
failed to lead by example in so far as little or no mention is being made of
reforms to the extremely generous pensions available to members of
parliament some of whom are little more than "Lobby Fodder". In addition
government is seeking to make changes to the pensions of existing staff who
were promised certain benefits when first taking their employment rather than
confining change to new recruits. This will lead to further distrust of
government.
In the past government has sought to rely on the loyalty of its public sector
workers whose positions and status have, as a result, been gradually eroded.
Now, and with good reason, public sector workers have concluded that
enough is enough and have decided to flex their muscles.
The undoubted result of recent government action will be to instil more
dissatisfaction within a public service sector which is already suffering from
low moral. It will also result in the more able members of the public service
leaving to find other employment in the private sector. By this very token in
future the best teachers will most certainly move to public schools leaving the
less able to try, as best they can, to educate the masses many of whom do not
wish to learn in the first place.

I sympathise with Teachers in the way that it has been handled, but on the other hand i think they need to understand that if we as a country continue to spend more money than we have, then there won’t be the jobs in the future to argue about, as the country will be broke.
The argument that teachers got into the job because of the good pensions, is awful, they should do it because they love it not because it pays well, they are responsible for the future of this country and if their only doing it for the money then we’re all in big trouble.

I think there is a lot of misinformation here on both sides.

Many public sector workers do enjoy good pensions but bear in mind that they don't get some of the perks and benefits that private sector employees get over a 40 year career.

Many private sector workers can have access to incentive schemes, bonus payments and even things like a christmas bonus or 'do'.

If a teacher improves productivity in the class and boosts exam pass rates it will not result in a bonus or pay rise. At Christmas the school staff will organise their own 'do' and will have to pay for it out of their pockets.

In fact at schools, if a member of staff wants to eat food in the school canteen they will have to pay for it - not even a free lunch. McDonalds and other restaurant chains don't charge their employees to eat the food produced on the premises - so should this private sector benefit be banned because it's unfair to those who don't work there?

I beleive that the better pension schemes available to some (not all public) sector employees makes up for the lack of bonus oportunities over a career.

It seems that the problem here is that many private sector employees are envious of the pensions available to public sector workers but how many would give up their sales bonuses, gym memberships, and other benefits over 40 years to match it?

No, it seems that the 'politics of envy' are at play. We can't have what you have so we want it taken away. Fair enough, if you then pay public sectopr workers bonus payments. Christmas do funded by lcoal taxpayers pehaps?

By the way, I'm not a teacher or a civil servant.

Bigbobstudly wrote:

"I think they (teachers) need to understand that if we as a country continue to spend more money than we have, then there won’t be the jobs in the future to argue about, as the country will be broke."

Strange that government can always find money to intervene at great cost in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and no most likely will in Iran whilst the home front is made to suffer. Wrong priorities?

I am totally supportive of why the public sector are striking because I believe that you should be able to retire nearer 60 more then 70(goes for all sectors). So that people of younger ages can step into work places being opened up by people retiring.
But the one thing that has frustrated me today was the DSA tests centers. I have been on job seekers since january with out being able to find work being a unskilled worker with no qualifications my parents paid for me to take my HGV which today was the final test module 4. which costs the trainee £250 for a 20min exam(test fees and lorry rental). Me and my instructor had heard that the strikes were happening and have been in contact since tuesday trying to find out whether the test was going ahead. On every ocaission the DSA center told us we had to turn up for the test otherwise they would not wavier the cost of the next test. The other annoying thing about this situation about this is that I had a job all lined up ready to go to on tuesday and get off the benefit system. To be told by DSA that it could be another 10 weeks just to do a 20min test.
My driving school and instructor are bending over backwards to try and get me into another test before tuesday so that I can still attend this job. (Thankyou for your efforts).
At least the school teachers had the decentcy to let everyone know whether they were available to teach or whether they were striking. So that people could make alternate arrangments.

Its disgusting to read how a goverment dsa centre can just treat people like this ...I would say complain to the MP but unless it effects him he wont do anything ...
Good luck in your test swampyprop and lets all hope you still get your job ....

Are you seriously saying that free Big-Macs and a Christmas "do" in the private sector excuse running a public sector pension scheme currently running £10-billion in deficit??!!!! Are you serious?! That's a huge number of vol-au-vents. So yes - I would support public sector Xmas do's in favour of them having a well-funded and self-sufficient pension scheme.
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By the way - large numbers of public sector workers are part of bonus schemes from Whitehall civil servants to bin-men.
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And swampy - your theory of making people retire at 60 and live for 30 years or more on pensions is both ageist (and illegal) but more importantly totally unrealistic. Who funds the pensions for those retired 60 year olds for 30-yeasr!? Um, the very people now in employment - i.e. you. So that means your pension contributions have to rise to fund the ever increasing life expectancy of the 60-yr olds you consigned to the scrap heap 10 years too early!!

Guy smiley: I'm not saying make them retire at all what I meant is if they have a good pension or some kind of saving they able to be sustainable on and they wanna retire. Why not. Not make them retire.
Then you can look at it on the other hand would you rather pay some one whos worked for 40 years and paid taxes.
Or pay for some one who's on benfits and never lifted a finger since they left school.
Or people get student loans etc to go university and when they finish there is no employment for them to go into because there are no jobs because people are having to work even longer.
Oh look more people on benefits because they have no way of earning a living.
Not only that if you actually go out and speak to people you'll find that people of the older generation still work for various reasons whether its because of boredom of not having anything to do and like to socialize to topping up there income. But a large number I have spoken to is down to there income and affording to live.

Not being funny it wouldn't matter what sector you are from and you were earning hundred pound or a million pound a week people will always want more 'its called being human'.

Southampton: Prentis says five million out in autumn if attack continues
Dave Prentis, Unison general secretary, was cheered in Southampton at a united rally of council workers, teachers and civil servants. He gave the message: "There is an alternative.

"If the bankers caused this crisis, they should pay."

And "if they attack on pensions continues," he said, "there should be five million out by the autumn."

Ian Woodland, Unite, whose members face dismissal on 11 July if they refuse to sign up to new worse contracts, said: "Our campaign will continue, come what may."

Nick Chaffey, Southern Socialist Party

For more info or to join the Socialist Party, cut and paste the following link into your web browser:


http://www.socialist



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TauntonSocialistPart
y wrote:
Reports: massive 30 June public sector pension strike

17.15
PCS in DWP: massive support for a massive strike
Across the UK DWP members of PCS struck very strongly today. In Leeds city centre there were picket lines on the Jobcentres, benefit offices, courts, tax office, ACAS, University, schools and other workplaces.

Around a thousand students, lecturers, teachers and PCS members marched from the University to City Square - filling the square with the cheers and chants of around a 2,000 string crowd.

Sheila Banks chair of Leeds against the cuts opened the rally passionately. There were excellent speakers from NUT, UCU, ATL and students and a school girl.

Jane Aitchison, DWP Group President spoke out against the cuts on our jobs, pay and pensions and argued for the alternative and particularly the need to invest in jobs which was very well received.

Jane said: "Today is massive. This is a real turning point.

Make no mistake - this is not about affordability. Our pension schemes are affordable - even the Sunday Telegraph says so.

This isn't about people subsidising our pensions - this is about our pensions being robbed to pay for the failure of the banks. "The support we have today is massive.

Today I say to David Cameron and Ed Miliband: 'We are not making a mistake - but by God you are.'

"Millions of people in this country today - public sector workers, private sector workers, school kids, students the unemployed, the sick, the disabled and pensioners - are united in willing us to win in our fight to make the alternative real".

The biggest cheer came when Jane called on the TUC to coordinate action across the public sector on a scale not seen for decades. That is what we need and after today we are ready to build towards it.


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16.49
Waltham Forest, east London: solidarity from non-striking unions
The lunch time demo at Waltham Forest Town Hall was also excellent. Over 250 people, many in non-striking unions expressed their solidarity.

Some workers came from Whipps Cross hospital, facing cuts of around 140 jobs. There was a good speech against the 'Labour' council's plans to force new contracts on workers as well as against the Tory/Lib pension counter-reform.

Mike Cleverly, Walthamstow Socialist Party

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16.46
North Staffordshire: support for action
Across North Staffordshire picket lines took place at most PCS workplaces and at Stoke-on-Trent College, but the liveliest one was in Albion Square in the city centre.

Many shoppers getting off buses shouted their support and honked horns to show their support. A woman who seemed very flustered approached the picket line and pointing to two kids with her said: "I support your action.

"I would pay teachers a million pounds if they would look after these pair for just two hours!"

Most schools were either closed or only had a skeleton staff of NASUWT members. Midland News broadcast the mass picket live and we also got coverage on Radio Stoke and the local paper.

About 70 people made the brief march to a rally jointly organised by the PCS North Staffs branch and the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) Staffordshire.

The rally was chaired by the secretary of CWU North Midlands branch. We had speakers from the NUT, PCS North Staffs branch secretary, CWU Midlands No.7 branch secretary, NSSN Staffordshire, North Staffs TUC, Stoke-on-Trent College UCU and Keele University.

The mood was quite clear among all who attended. We need to turn today's almost one million on strike into four million in the autumn.

Andy Bentley

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16.45
Support for 30 June strikes in Stafford
Socialist Party members in Stafford held a campaign stall in the town in support of the strikes. Earlier in the day we visited the PCS picket line outside the local Jobcentre.

50 PCS members were on strike and they were going down to Cannock to support fellow members and then on to the rally in Birmingham. One copy of the Socialist was sold.

The campaign stall was very successful with 16 papers being sold and over £31 in fighting fund being raised!

Even though we only managed to get to one picket, union members were coming to our stall so we found out that PCS members at Stafford Prison and MoD Stafford were out as well as a good number of schools.

The response from the public was unanimously in support of the action with equal support for both teachers and PCS workers.

We spoke to some Unison members who were very much in favour of their union undertaking similar action in the immediate future!

Josie Shelley, Stafford Socialist Party

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16.35
Walthamstow, east London: managers shocked by solidarity
The strike at Walthamstow Job Centre was virtually solid as barely a handful of union members went into work. The effect of the joint strike action boosted morale on the picket line at an office where managers, who had taken pride in remaining open and signing in previous strikes, were reduced to offering only a skeleton service even with extra workers brought in alongside non-union members.

Significantly some claimants who had rung the office first asking whether they had to come in were told to do so only to be turned away when they arrived without having to sign on, indicating that the solidity of the strike had come as a shock to the managers.

The pickets got a lot of spontaneous support from people going into the Job Centre, many of them taking stickers and leaflets and giving the lie to the Tory government propaganda that this strike would alienate ordinary people.

The acres of newsprint that had been dedicated to condemning the action from across the political spectrum had had the effect of publicising the action and the issues involved, shown by the response that the pickets got.

"This is all our fight, I hope you win" said one man, expressing the solidarity that many clearly felt with workers being prepared to fight back against the attacks of this millionaire Con-Dem government.

Ken Douglas, Walthamstow Socialist Party

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16.26
South west Wales round-up
Dozens of picket lines were scattered across South West Wales, from as far apart as the Jobcentre Plus in Milford Haven to the massive DVLA site in Swansea with Socialist Party members to the fore in organising the action and addressing the rallies.

PCS
Without exception, PCS members in the different departments of the civil service reported the best response ever to the strike call. Dave Warren on the DVLA picket line pointed to the empty car park as a clear indication of his members' feelings.

It was the same on the lively picket lines at the Land Registry and the Pension Centre in Swansea.

Llanelli
At Llanelli jobcentre the mood amongst pickets was determined and they even recruited a couple of non- members who then stayed on to help picket!

Hundreds of schools across the area were closed and a strong delegation of teachers attended the Swansea rally.

Gower College
UCU at Gower College organised an impressive rally at the Gorseinon campus gates where Socialist Party members Carrie Anne Watkins and Alec Thraves were amongst those giving support and solidarity speeches.

Swansea pension centre
Carrie Anne, PCS branch organiser at Swansea Pension Centre thanked UCU for the invite and said: "All workers, private and public sector should unite together, to make sure we have decent public services and a pension we deserve!

Swansea rally: socialists give unequivocal support
Teachers, civil servants, lecturers and many other trade unionists converged onto Swansea's Castle Square at lunchtime to rally support for their first day of strike action to defend their pensions and to stop the attacks on their jobs and conditions.

Alec Thraves brought solidarity from the Socialist Party and said: "Unlike Cameron, Clegg and Miliband the Socialist Party gives unequivocal support to the strikers and will assist in building for wider action in the Autumn".

Between 300-400 attended an enthusiastic lunchtime rally at Castle Square in Swansea, with four Socialist Party members amongst the guest speakers.

Katrine Williams, Wales chair of PCS, gave another rousing speech and had a huge ovation when she said: "We've had half a million marching, 750,000 striking today and we need four million out in the autumn!"

Caroline Butchers from the NUT highlighted the concerns of young teachers and the damage these attacks are having on the profession. Many young teachers present fully endorsed her speech.

Les Woodward brought solidarity and support from Remploy workers and said they "fully support the strikers and hoped support from them would be forthcoming if action was needed by Remploy workers to save their factories from closure".

A big shout of 'Yes' confirmed that solidarity. Ronnie Job, Secretary of Swansea Trades Council, rammed home the message that is spreading across the public sector when he said: "It wasn't us who caused this economic crisis and we're not going to pay for it.

It was the bankers, speculators, spivs and their rotten system that's at fault and needs changing". Dozens of copies of the Socialist were sold, hundreds of Socialist Party, National Shop Stewards Network and Youth Fight for Jobs leaflets given out and several potential members met on what was a brilliant strike day in South West Wales.

Roll on the autumn!


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16.24
Lunchtime walkout at Wormwood Scrubs prison
Over 100 staff from all sections of the Prison Officers Association (POA), including governors, walked out of Wormwood Scrubs Prison, West London, today for a lunchtime protest meeting.

All of them are affected by the pension cuts and are angry about the other cuts in their living standards. They also wanted to express their solidarity with those public sector workers on strike.

Alan Gourley, the chair of the POA in the prison conducted the meeting outside the gates in very difficult circumstances with vehicles driving in and out of the prison.

But in a very good speech he clearly summed up the members' views, judging by his reception. He said he couldn't imagine prison officers being able to do their job till the age of 68.

At present there is provision for early retirement due to ill health but that can and has been violated by something called a Medical Efficiency clause which is then used to get rid of workers on a much reduced allowance.

Presently they are faced with a government dictat not negotiations. It is not a strong government and has already been forced into u-turns.

"Our pressure can tell", he said. He hoped The Socialist could give their voice a hearing as none of the other press had shown an interest.

I also spoke, bringing greetings, solidarity and congratulations from the Socialist Party, West London and branch and nationally.

Keith Dickinson, West Central London Socialist Party

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16.21
Southend-on-Sea: this needs to be just the beginning
200 workers, mostly from the large civil service workplaces nearby (DWP and Customs and Excise) rallied in Southend town centre at lunchtime. The mood was generally positive, with a widespread recognition from speakers and the people I spoke to in the crowd that this needed to be just the beginning, both in terms of further strike action and the need for a political alternative to austerity.

Dave Murray, Basildon branch

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16.19
Worcester: teacher left Labour
Pete McNally added: "I spoke to a teacher from Hereford before the rally who would not take our leaflets but said she had just left the Labour Party because of Ed Miliband's remarks.

"Another teacher from Bromsgrove talked to us about the National Shop Stewards Network.


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16.17
Doncaster tells Ed Miliband: "Back us, or back off!"

Socialist Party members in Doncaster had an early start. We visited the picket line outside the council offices, where the local authority Unison branch was striking over cuts in jobs and services.

Then we joined the PCS picket line outside the Jobcentre.

Striking workers were welcoming on both picket lines and were happy to talk about the dispute. PCS estimated that the strike was 90% solid while Unison considered it to be 80%; with those who crossed the picket line either being managers or agency staff.

Later a demonstration of over 250 marched from Doncaster council's headquarters, to the council chambers where an open air rally was held. As the march passed through the town centre, shoppers stopped to cheer and applaud in a display of the working class solidarity which still remains in this former coal mining region.

At the rally, speakers from NUT, ATL, UCU, PCS and Unison lined up to debunk the myth of "gold plated" public-sector pensions and to pledge their determination to see this fight through to the end.

Condemnation was poured onto the Con-Dem government but the biggest cheer came when one speaker attacked the Labour Party's refusal to support the strikes and gave Doncaster North MP, Ed Miliband the ultimatum: "Back us, or back off!"

Steve Williams, Barnsley/Doncaster Socialist Party

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16.13
Delegate after delegate berating Yvette Cooper on cuts and New Labour attacks on strikes at TUC LGBT conference.

Marc Vallee on Twitter

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15.49
PCs members at the Department of Health had a brilliant picket, with 80+% of members out. New members joining every day to participate in the strike.

Alexis Edwards, PCS

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15.47
Nottinghamshire: NHS workers want action too!
Most NHS workers were not given the opportunity to show their anger at the attacks on the pensions. But 200 staff held a lunchtime rally at Rampton secure hospital in Nottinghamshire organised by prison officers in the POA, with Unison members also involved.

Speaking as a former local government election candidate for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, Jon Dale was applauded when I called for a 24-hour public sector general strike.

Referring also to Ed Miliband's condemnation of the strike he called for the building of a new mass workers' party based on the trade unions. There was a lot of support for strike action in the NHS, maintaining emergency cover.

Many workers feared that some trade union leaders would conclude separate deals leaving NHS workers isolated and getting the worst deal.

A Socialist Party member

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15.42
We marched!
There have been well-attended rallies across the UK with an estimated 5,000 people marching in Manchester, 4,000 in Brighton and 1,000 in Cardiff and Glasgow.

PCS press release

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15.39
PCS in the Ministry of Justice
Closed more courts than ever, Westminster magistrates for the first time. Ten trials were cancelled, and prosecutors turned away and 40 prisoners waiting in the cells.

At London tribunals 102 staff should have worked and 84 never went in!

Lois Austin, PCS

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15.34
Nottingham
Demo of 800 in Nottingham. 45 copies of the Socialist sold.

Big rally at Nottingham Albert Hall.

Jean Thorpe

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15.33
Southampton: great response to socialists
Over 1,000 at Southampton rally. Great response to the Socialist Party leaflet.

Five teachers and young people filled in cards to join the Socialist Party.

Nick Chaffey

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15.32
London: socialist speakers
The National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) handed over its sound system to the overflow rally when the official system broke down. Socialist Party members addressed the crowd; Martin Powell-Davies of the NUT teachers' union; James Kerr from Unison, NSSN chair Rob Williams and Paul Callanan, secretary of Youth Fight for Jobs.

Paula Mitchell

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15.24
Liverpool: a great turnout
There were 3,000 on the Liverpool demo. A great turnout from all four unions on the picket lines this morning.

Socialist Party member and PCS assistant general secretary Chris Baugh spoke at the rally after the demo and got a great round of applause.

John Marston

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15.37
Bristol: more solid than previous strikes
Over 5,000 people marched through Bristol today in the biggest demonstration that the city has seen in a generation. Striking teachers, lecturers and civil servants made this an impressive display of the strength of their strike.

Solidarity for their action was shown by members of the FBU, CWU, Unite, Unison and other unions and by a large number of students who all joined the demonstration.

Shoppers also voiced their support as they lined the sides of the march route. As Socialist Party member and PCS vice-president John McInally explained in a speech to the crowd, the strike was not just about pensions but implicitly about defending jobs and services from the vicious attacks by the government.

The energetic and enthusiastic mood was tempered by a real determination to do what is necessary to defeat the cuts. The biggest cheers came from all sides when speakers called for the action to be extended to a general strike across the whole public sector.

When a speaker from the ATL teachers' union said the strike was not intended to bring down the government large sections of the crowd vocally expressed their disagreement!

Earlier in the day Socialist Party members had visited and brought solidarity to all the main picket lines in the city. The demand for a one-day public-sector general strike as the next step in the struggle was universally well received.

Pickets all explained how this had been more solid than previous strikes. The need to fight back is very clear cut to workers who face not only attacks on their pensions but also on their pay and conditions, on job security and on the services that they provide.

As a civil service union PCS member picketing the Crown Court explained to me: "You wouldn't tolerate it if Cameron came into your house and stole your telly so we have to fight back when they try and do the same with our pensions."

Tom Baldwin

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15.10
North west update: "we won't work til we're 68!"
There were 600+ at the Preston rally with all unions represented with flags and banners . Big turnouts from FBU firefighters and CWU members.There was 350 people at the one in Lancaster. Salford City Unison branch held lunchtime protests across the city with many members bringing Unison placards they'd made.

20+ rallied outside Swinton Civic Hall with many others elsewhere in the borough. There was a great response to the Socialist.

The main chant on the Manchester demo was: "1 2 3 4, we're not paying any more; 5 6 7 8, we won't work til we're 68!"

The Manchester demonstration is the biggest local trade union march in the area for many years.

Hugh Caffrey

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15.03
Worcester: blame international capitalism
Socialist Party members visited picket lines at Worcester University - a colourful display of placards, some children going to a local school shouted 'Defend pensions' and one raised a clenched fist.

On to Worcester Magistrates Court, one picket with placard, we offered support and he bought a copy of the Socialist paper. On to Worcester Technology College - nearly 30 pickets at two entrances, most took leaflets and explained to us some of the particular issues there.

Some students came out to support their tutors with home-made placards and there was a lot of support from passing motorists

On to the rally of over 100 strikers and their supporters - Steve Baker of the ATL explained the average teacher pension is £10,000, the unions had already accepted savings of £67 billion, and said no one would want to pay more to get less in their pension.

Bryn Griffiths of Worcester Technology College UCU said there were management plans to double up class sizes so there might be 100 students in a class, he also said teachers in private schools would be excluded from the Teachers Pension Scheme.

Max Hyde of the NUT said Sir Philip Green should pay as much tax as a London teacher, claimed teachers would choose not to join the scheme as it was too expensive, with pension contributions rising 50%.

"We are standing up for our own rights and for the future of the country". Kevin Greenway of PCS NEC said there was big support for the strike.

He had come from a picket line at a court in Kidderminster, where one picket had growled at a manager who was going into work: "Before we get the Sun headlines about intimidation I should tell you the picket was three years old." Kevin said 154,000 PCS members had been on the union's pension website.

When Kevin mentioned the remarks by Ed Miliband against striking there was audible groaning in the room. When Kevin blamed international capitalism for the worsening crisis in Greece there was applause.

Several speakers said there should be a friendly approach to those workers in unions which had not balloted to get them involved, one teacher described NAS/UWT members as "chomping at the bit" to take action. An Aslef member gave a message of support.

Pete, Worcester

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15.01
Birmingham: militant mood gets a thumbs up!
The strike numbers in Birmingham were boosted by the one-day strike of local government workers in Unison against huge pay and job cuts and the planned imposition of worse contracts.

A march of up to 5,000 PCS, NUT, ATL, UCU and local government workers took some time to make its way through the city. Along the way there was lots of public support with people coming out of shops and cafes to give a thumbs up.

There was a very militant mood and speeches.

Every time the bankers were mentioned there were huge boos!

Clive Walder, Birmingham Socialist Party

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14.58
In Truro, county town of Cornwall, 800 people attended an open air rally.

From NUTonline Twitter feed

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14.33
Prison officers show support in Manchester
Eighty prison officers in the POA held a lunchtime meeting at Manchester Strangeways prison in moral support with strikers and to protest at attacks on their own pensions.

Hugh Caffrey

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14.23
London: Ed Miliband is a 'disgrace'
3,000 at London indoor rally at Westminster Hall. Biggest cheer so far (I mean really huge!) when ATL secretary Mary Bousted said that Ed Miliband's response to the strike is a "disgrace".

Paula Mitchell

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14.22
Ministry of Justice Salford courts
Despite planned closure of the courts as a result of cuts, determined pickets enjoyed good support from Salford Unison stewards and members who later held a lunchtime protest.

There Unison branch secretary Steve North warned that Unison members would need to join action in the autumn. HMRC revenue and customs at Trinity Bridge House in Salford: massive support and no PCS members crossed the picket lines.

Hugh Caffrey

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(Click to enlarge)

14.18
Bolton: college staff organise together
There was a picket line/demo of 90 this morning outside the three Bolton colleges which are next to each other: Bolton Sixth Form, Bolton University and Bolton College.

NUT, ATL and UCU all participated, including many members. They had spent two weeks building for it and had sent seven to another sixth form campus too.

14.27
And they had speeches from the various reps and others on the Bolton big picket (just been talking to an NUT rep who was on it).

Judy Beishon

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14.11
West London: support builds
Solid strikes at Uxbridge, Hayes, Heathrow and Southall Jobcentres.

In Uxbridge, the junior manager turned up for work, stayed half an hour, then came outside and joined the pickets with some cakes, and requested to join the PCS!

30 lively pickets at Uxbridge College, with support from the students. UCU and ATL held a united picket.

40 schools were closed across the borough. HMRC and the Borders Agency held pickets at Heathrow and got a great deal of support from passing motorists and other Heathrow workers.

Hillingdon Against Cuts and the Socialist Party held a mass leafleting session in Uxbridge town centre, with Unite, Bectu, GMB and PCS members participating, raising money and building support from the public, who were very supportive.

Ian Harris, Hillingdon Socialist Party

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14.03
London: strikers fill the streets
Tens of thousands of kids, teachers, civil servants and supporters marched in London. They filled the entire route! Huge support from passers-by, many joined the march.

14.13
The National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) speaker system gave trade unionists an opportunity to speak. NSSN chair Rob Williams provided a fighting strategy of general strike action.

Paula Mitchell, London Socialist Party

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14.00
Wales: extract from report on walesonline.co.uk
Thousands of public sector workers have taken their protests over government pension plans to the streets of Wales during a day of strike action. Teachers, lecturers and other public sector workers were among those on the Cardiff Against Cuts rally as part of a day of industrial action across Wales.

In Swansea, PCS union members gathered outside the DVLA building in Morriston, while in Merthyr Tydfil, there were picket lines outside the town's college, and its HMRC building.

Workers waving placards protested outside the National Library of Wales, in Aberystwyth, while there were also demonstrations at the Ceredigion town's university.

In Cardiff, a march took protestors from Sophia Gardens to the Welsh Government building at Cathays Park, where a number of speakers from a range of unions addressed the crowd.

Speaking during the march, Dr Philip Dixon, of the ATL teachers union, said: "I think the significance of this day shows that in 127 years of history, we have never taken national strike action.

"We have been through decades of industrial unrest and we have never decided to take national strike action before.

"We have done now because teachers are so angry about what is being proposed by the Westminster government."

David Evans, of NUT Cymru, said: "Today we are sending a powerful message to Westminster to say this is not acceptable.

"Teachers and public sector workers are prepared to take a stand."

He predicted that by the autumn, many other public sector unions will have voted to take similar strike action, raising the prospect of vast walkouts across the country.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka, said: "This is the best-supported strike we've ever had...The government made a lot of the fact that after the strike ballot it was clear civil servants didn't support strike action, but today we can see that they have voted with their feet and sent a clear message to the government that they will not tolerate these attacks on their hard-earned pensions rights and will fight the cuts that threaten to devastate our communities and jobs."


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13.50
Hertfordshire: prepared to go even further
The Hertfordshire rally of the four unions on strike was packed with rank and file union members. The mood was extremely good and prepared to go even further.

Contributions from Socialist Party members went down very well. The message was clear: go back and organise, talk to fellow members, talk to members of other unions the next action should be all public service unions, including Unison, NASUWT, Unite, GMB and all the rest.

Tonight Stevenage Anti-Cuts Union will be holding a meeting on how to fight all the cuts. Hundreds of leaflets were handed out at the rally.

See 'What's on' column for details of meetings all round the country.

Steve Glennon

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13.31
Exeter takes to the streets
800 have just marched through Exeter. Pedestrians applauding as we marched.

Robin Clapp, South West Socialist Party

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13.25
Manchester: support from all sides!
A driver of a train going over a bridge next to the Manchester rally saw the rally and banners and sounded the train horn to a big wave of applause.

Judy Beishon

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13.20
More than 700 teachers, civil servants, lecturers, parents and children protest in the Norwich sunshine. Message of support received from Unison school support workers in Cardiff.

From NUTonline Twitter feed

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13.14
I think there are about 800 at the Cardiff rally

StLemur on Twitter, UCU

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13.09
Southampton: Prentis says five million out in autumn if attack continues
Dave Prentis, Unison general secretary, was cheered in Southampton at a united rally of council workers, teachers and civil servants. He gave the message: "There is an alternative.

"If the bankers caused this crisis, they should pay."

And "if they attack on pensions continues," he said, "there should be five million out by the autumn."

Ian Woodland, Unite, whose members face dismissal on 11 July if they refuse to sign up to new worse contracts, said: "Our campaign will continue, come what may."

Nick Chaffey, Southern Socialist Party

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13.05
Massive Manchester rally
A speaker at the Manchester rally just said there are 5,000 here

Judy Beishon

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13.00
Leicester land registry
Land registry workers on the PCS picket line in Leicester were buoyed up by not only turning away the post but also the bin lorry with workers refusing to cross picket lines.

There was support from the public going past, especially from bus drivers.

Steve Score, Leicester Socialist Party

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12.55
Leicester: best strike action we've ever seen
Fantastic response to strike action in Leicester. Most of the schools are closed, courts and Jobcentres aren't running.

There are currently 800 people at a strike rally following a march from the city centre. Many trade unionists reporting it's the best strike action they have ever seen - non-members not going into work, senior management joining the union to come on strike too.

Determined mood among non-striking unions that they want to come out on strike too!

Becci Heagney, Leicester Socialist Party

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12.50
Derby: solidarity speeches
200 striking teachers and PCS members attended a strike rally in Derby. Unison and GMB members spoke in solidarity, raising the prospect that they would be out in the autumn.

13.07
The biggest applause at the rally was when Miliband's opposition to strike action was criticised.

Steve Score

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12.49
Lincoln: picket lines, march, protest and rally
Pickets outside Lincoln University and two Jobcentres. 100 marched with Lincoln TUC. Protest outside Lincoln prison.

Now off to NUT rally!

Nick Parker, PCS

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12.43
Yorkshire on the march!
Nearly 1,000 on Sheffield demo and 400 in Doncaster.

Alistair Tice, Yorkshire Socialist Party

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12.14
Brendan Barber: "You are right to make this stand"
"When injustice is piled upon unfairness, then you are right to make this stand. Stick together, stick with your unions and we will win." Brendan Barber, affected by the intoxicating mood at the Exeter rally just now.

12.31
Jim Thomson, UCU college lecturers union member, has just brought the house down by demanding a 24-hour public sector general strike.

Robin Clapp, Southern region Socialist Party

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11.57
Bristol: Mass support for public sector general strike
On the 5,000-strong Bristol demo striking unions were joined by banners from the CWU, FBU, Unite and Unison trade unions.

A PCS picket at the Crown Court said: "You wouldn't tolerate it if Cameron broke into your house and stole your telly so you have to fight when they do the same to your pension."

All the strikers I've spoken to agree we need a public sector general strike.

Tom Baldwin, Bristol Socialist Party

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11.45
Greenwich, south London: solid
Strike solid locally, good pickets at HMRC revenues and customs building, Jobcentre, college and university and about 100 meeting up to get down to demo with vast majority of schools closed.

Plus 50 Unite members were at a council lobby last night.

Paul Callanan, Greenwich Socialist Party

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11.40
Manchester on the march
Thousands of strikers and anti-cuts activists just begun to march in Manchester from All Saints park to Catlefield. Earlier, lively picket lines across the city, including at the revenue and customs department, Manchester Met university and the court offices.

There is an excellent turnout from the ATL on their first ever strike in 127 years! The FBU have a good contingent and we have heard that prison officers in the POA are having a lunchtime protest at Strangeways prison. More later, including reports of the Unison rally in Salford.

Judy Beishon

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11.21
Standing room only in Exeter rally
At least 500 crammed into the Exeter rally. Others still queuing outside! Incredible atmosphere. Genuinely historic day for trade unionism in Exeter.

Robin Clapp

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11.17

PCS strikers in Durham. photo Elaine Brunskill (Click to enlarge)

Elaine Brunskill, Newcastle Socialist Party sent in the following quotes from picket lines (all in personal capacity)
"This is a fight to the end. We're fighting to save all the hard earned gains made in the past. "We're fighting for all those in the future. "They're attempting to push us back to the hungry 1930s, and remember these people attacking us are the grandchildren of the mill and factory owners!"

John McGrory (PCS Branch Chair), Durham Passport Office
"I carry my pension form around with me to show people - here it is. I'll get £724 a year - I'm worth more dead. "They want us to increase our contributions, but get less money." Three weeks into the month most of us that work here are dipping into our overdraft. To me this is an ideological attack I'm a Labour Party member. When I saw on the news last night that Miliband was going to cross the picket line I felt like crying"(PCS)

Wendy Hilary (PCS)
"A lot of disabled people work for the civil service precisely because of the pension. If I'm forced to work until I'm 66 or 68 - I'll not get there. "Thousands of other disabled people will be in the same position - we'll die before we get our pensions."

Richard Murray (PCS), Durham Land Registry
"We're getting a good response from the public - generally everyone is supporting us"

Mike Cassidy (PCS Health & Safety Rep)
"It's refreshing to be on a picket line that's popular. "We are getting lots of support from passing drivers including from BMW, Jaguar and Audi drivers and even Police cars have been joining in."

Stuart Dunn (PCS)
"A policeman on foot patrol stopped to wish us good luck and said if it wasn't for the strike ban on police they would be out as well."

Anon PCS

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11.09
Brilliant turnout across the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
95%!

Two offices shut in Barnsley and Rotherham. Sunderland Jobcentre shut.

Most offices only open to turn people away!

Fantastic level of public support.

Off to Leeds demo!

Jane Aitchison, PCS president in the DWP

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10.28
DVLA Brighton shut. Two non-PCS members went in, 19 on strike. Solidarity greetings to all taking strike action from their branch.


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10.12
B6 Hackney college - picking up the torch of the student protesters
There were about 70 pickets on the two gates of the B6 college in Hackney, east London. James Drummond, the NUT teachers union campaigns officer at the college spoke to Clare Doyle: "The picket is extremely vibrant with lots of support from the passers-by and the public.

"UK Uncut came around earlier with breakfast for us. "But this is a broader political question. It was not difficult to argue for strike action. This is about all the attacks on education.

"We have picked up the torch of the fight that the students began over the Education Maintenance Allowance before Christmas. The key as to whether the students come back into the struggle is whether the trade unions get their wits together in time for a round of strikes in the autumn.

If we're taking action, that will inspire the students. They were in the vanguard last December and we followed their lead.

Now we have a responsibility to give a lead and continue the struggle."

The chair of the NUT at B6, Jamie Duff said: "This is an ideological and political issue disguised with economic arguments. They are trying to facilitate the future privatisation of the public sector.

It's not just pensions. This movement will build up.

The members are not in the mood for half-baked concessions."

Clare Doyle, Hackney Socialist Party

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10.07
Picket round up from North West from Hugh Caffrey
PCS at Jobcentre in Graeme House, Chorlton Square,Manchester
Pickets told us about the terrible working conditions and impossible targets, despite which three-quarters of workers were on strike.

PCS at British Council, Manchester
Branch chair and Socialist Party member Alex Davidson said only ten went in, a strike rate of well over 90%, while on a large and lively picket line outside the Jarrow youth March for Jobs plan was well-received.

Oldham
PCS members mounted a good picket line at the benefits centre, as they did at Oldham courts too where Unison members visited to show their support.


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09.58
PCS: absolutely solid
The strike is absolutely solid. This is our best ever turnout and it is looking very good for the demo later on today.

One little anecdote: a judge at one of the courts came out and gave the pickets a box of biscuits and took a sticker - so we're getting support from all quarters!

John McInally, vice-president PCS

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09.45
Union membership increased significantly in Taunton
Pickets at the DWP Jobcentre in Taunton, Somerset reported a high level of involvement and support for their strike. They added that union membership has increased significantly during the couple of days leading up to the strike.

One branch officer with decades of experience said he had never seen such a sharp and dramatic increase in branch membership before!

Socialist Party supporter

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8.42am Police around camp in Trafalgar Square. Presumably to stop rioting. photo and caption Suzanne Beishon (Click to enlarge)


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08.38
Changes at Environment and Climate Change
Small victory at Department for Environment and Climate Change with security closing the back staff entrance for them.

The department has only existed two years and membership has gone up from 180 to 286. A picketer bought the Socialist.

Suzanne Beishon, London Socialist Party

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08.22
New young workers joining PCS
Kevin at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) reported people joining the union because of the strike. He was appalled at Labour MPs being instructed to cross picket lines and at Miliband's anti-strike statement.

He pointed out that in Newham, where he lives, every Labour councillor voted for cuts. They've made it clear which side they're on.

He said: "Unison members should be on strike today - I'm sure they want to be.

"We'll have to keep the pressure on."
Paula Mitchell, London Socialist Party

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08.18
Picket at Tory HQ by charity commission workers.

Sean Figg

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07.55
Parliament
Security staff at parliament set up their picket at 5.30am to catch the early shift. Saikou Jaiteh, the PCS civil service workers' union rep, explained that hardly anyone went into work.

"We're expecting a good day today. We are determined.

People can see that this attack on pensions is a fundamental attack. When people look at how much they will lose, it's devastating.

We see this strike as just the beginning. This government isn't going to make any serious concessions without a serious fight.

We need other unions, all the public sector to come out together.

If we get that in the autumn it will be a real game-changer."

"(This is a precise not a direct quote)

Paula Mitchell, London Socialist Party

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07.38

Treasury
PCS picket at the treasury said it's much quieter than in previous strikes. Only a trickle of people going in.

Suzanne Beishon, London Socialist Party

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07.01
Central London strikes
Central London is different today. 7am in parliament square and there's all the usual traffic, black cabs and buses.

Soon there'll ne the usual ranks of tourists. But every direction you look in something else is happening - workers are starting to stake out their pickets.

Up Whitehall, down Millbank, up Victoria street and on three sides of the square itself.

It's a sign of the potential power of the working class at the heart of government - parliament itself is lined with pickets; the treasury, dept of health, ministry of defence, dept for work and pensions, foreign office, business and enterprise - all lined by striking workers!

Paula Mitchell, London Socialist Party

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06.20
Hands off our pensions in Surrey
An eve of strike rally organised by Redhill Against the Cuts was addressed by NUT and UCU strikers as well as Unison reps from the borough, county and health branches.

The meeting was well attended and lively and agreed to campaign to widen the strike and put pressure on our unions leaders to get together for a 24 hour general strike.

The striking unions and their supporters will be meeting at Camberley station at 1pm before marching to Camberley Theatre for a rally. NUT reps will be delivering a letter to Michael Gove MP in the morning and PCS strikers will be picketing in Woking.

Paul Couchman, Surrey

For more info or to join the Socialist Party cut and paste the following link into your web browser:

http://www.socialist


party.org.uk/main/Ho


me

**** off you left wing ****

Another thread ruined by our in-house oxymoron - Socialist Worker.

TauntonSocialistPart
y wrote:

Guy Smiley wrote: Another thread ruined by our in-house oxymoron - Socialist Worker.

Guy Smiley, Q. Where are the Socialist Worker contributions towards this thread? A. There aren't any!! LOL...Your clearly held rabid hatred of trade unions has led you to hallucinate!! Perhaps you need to go and lie down in a darkened room!! For more information or to join the Socialist Party cut and paste the following link into your web browser: http://www.socialist party.org.uk/main/Ho me

Nothing to do with unions you commie t**t, you just fill the page with your copy and paste c**p, do you believe that anyone reads your drivel. Bet when you enter the pub everyone leaves you boring git.

You couldn't be more wrong. I've worked closely for 15 years with FOC's from Unite in the UK manufacturing sector and have nothing but admiration for how they've worked WITH their employers to maintain employment and drastically improve health & safety for their members.
*
What I do have a problem is the paradox of champagne socialist union leaders in the public sector earning over 150,000 a year taking dinner- ladies out on strike as part of flashback to the '70's and to groom their egos!!
*
You don't even have the support of the Union backed Labour leader!!
*
Question to my socialist brother: Name me a socialist state in the world where your ideals have worked and provide equality for all? Cuba? Russia? China? North Korea?

Honestone wrote:
I work in a school as a cover supervisor. That means I teach your children when the teacher is absent. I do not get paid for school holidays, extra when I do residential trips nor do I receive any perks from working for the government. I earn £600 per month for the privilege! The only debts I have are my student loans and my mortgage, my husband is on a low income and we do not qualify for help from anyone! If I don't stand up for me then who will? When I took my job it was explained to me that they acknowledge the pay is poor but it is made up with the pensin deal so if this is the case can I sue for brach of contract if the gevernment get their way?
Also I know of several companies in the private sector who wanted to make similar cuts and their employees voted to strike. If that is the case then why do I have to be penalised for working for the government?

Being a cover supervisor in a school in Somerset your contract of employment is almost certainly with the Somerset County Council. I suggest that you read your contract carefully in order to establish whether it included any reference to pension. If it did and your employer wishes to make changes to your contract that you feel are inappropriate then by all means consult your trade union, if you have one, or a specialist employment lawyer, even your local CAB. However you should be aware that it is possible that employment as a servant of the crown is not governed by the Contract of Employment Act. But being employed by the Somerset County Council, not directly by government, may be to your advantage in this matter. Best of luck!

After 30 June pensions walkouts



Next step: one-day public sector strike


On Tuesday 28 June, two days before 750,000 public sector workers walked out against vicious pension cuts, Tory prime minister David Cameron said: "At a time when discussions are ongoing, I would say to you: these strikes are wrong".



He then went on to insist that the government would not change its course on the attacks - what kind of 'discussion' is that? In reality the government is determined to slash hardwon pension rights.



But the 30 June strikes, involving the PCS civil servants' union and teachers and lecturers in NUT, UCU and ATL showed the willingness to fight the Con-Dem government's attacks.



Now, around the country people are asking "what next to stop the millionaire axe-wielders?" As with the magnificent TUC demonstration on 26 March, the coalition has been shaken by the first coordinated strikes since it came to power.



They have responded with threats of yet more anti-union laws - already the most undemocratic in Western Europe - and Tory education secretary Michael Gove's pathetic attempts to set up a scab army of parents to foil striking teachers.



But we're still facing £81 billion cuts to our jobs, services and pensions. Socialist Party members and the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) gave out thousands of leaflets on 30 June calling for a 24-hour public sector general strike to escalate the action to defeat the government.



We agree with the words of PCS general secretary, Mark Serwotka, who said: "We have to turn 750,000 out on 30 June into four million in the autumn". This means bringing on board the other public sector unions, in particular the 'Big 3' - Unison, Unite and GMB.



On 11 September, the NSSN will be lobbying the TUC to call for this coordinated action. The solidarity rallies on 30 June showed that strikes against this government's cuts agenda are overwhelmingly popular.

The victims, many of them isolated, suffering from the attacks on social services, children's services, housing benefit, etc can see that at least someone is fighting these cuts.

But Labour leader Ed Miliband has criticised the strikes. He has also pulled out of the Durham Miners' Gala because he doesn't want to stand alongside Bob Crow of the RMT transport union.

Yet again this shows the absolute necessity of the unions creating a new mass workers' party to give a political voice to our class. Socialists are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Bob, the RMT and all workers, young people and campaigners against this government.

The RMT's recent victory on the London Underground showed the whole union movement that victories are possible with a determined leadership and if we are prepared to strike together.


For more information about the NSSN copy and paste the following link into your web browser:


http://www.shopstewa
rds.net/

For more information about the Socialist Party:

http://www.socialist
party.org.uk/main/Ho
me

NATIONAL SHOP STEWARD'S NETWORK (NSSN) STRIKE BULLETIN.Issued Friday July 1st.


June 30th was an amazing day for the fight-back against pension cuts and beyond! A demonstration of what can be achieved when the unions move into action!



There were picket lines, lunch time rallies, walkouts, occupations and support from unions not even officially on strike but desperate to be involved in some way, despite the vile and vicious propaganda from the government, media and sadly those you would hope to gain support from.



Mary Bousted, general secretary of the ATL, won the biggest cheer at a rally yesterday with: "The response of Ed Miliband has been a disgrace – he should be ashamed of himself. If our strike is a mistake, what has he done to oppose this devastating attack on our pensions? If the Opposition will not defend our pensions, we will."




You would think from looking at most of the main stream press this we are not supported or that very little happened, but to be honest it impossible for us to report all of the details in one bulletin! In terms of demonstrations there were: 4,000 in Brighton, 5,000 in Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol, 3,000 in Liverpool, 500 in Ipswich, 800 in Cardiff, Exeter and Truro, 300 in Chester & York, 1,000 in Glasgow, Southampton and Hull, 200 in Southend, 600 in Preston, 1500 in Cambridge, 350 in Reading, 550 in Plymouth, 400 in Doncaster, 100 in Lincoln, 200 in Derby, 700 in Norwich, 30,000 in London and many, many more across the country! More area reports will be added to the website over the next week, please send in yours & details of follow up meetings & actions.




In some areas the NSSN joined forces with local unions to organise demos and rallies. Outside Central Hall Westminster NSSN speakers addressed the overflow crowd. With a one –day warning shot across the bows of this millionaire coalition government, now is the time to prepare to step up the fight.



Thousands of our leaflets, bulletins and postcards were given out, placards were held high. Our message to develop a general strike was welcomed and supported. Tomorrow the new NSSN Steering Committee will be making an assessment of yesterday’s action and discussing a lobby of the TUC on September 11th in London in order to help ratchet up the pressure on these leaders to follow up the March 26th demo with bigger joint strike action in the autumn.




We would encourage unions; campaign groups etc to follow up meetings of what next, if you have visited some workplaces then re-visit and develop union and community actions in the future. If you were not on strike this time, look at how your union and workplace can take part in the future, invite a local striker and donate to the hardship funds.


For more information about the NSSN cut and paste the following link into your web browser:




http://www.shopstewa
rds.net/index.htm





For more information about the Socialist Party:





http://www.socialist

party.org.uk/main/Ho

me”

Busting the public sector pensions myths!

(One of many posts that the Somerset County Gazette and other advocates of the savage Con-Dem austerity programme don't want you to read!)



The Con-Dem ministers who attack the unions for taking strike action in defence of public sector pensions on 30 June are liars. They will say anything to try and divide the working class.





This post shows how some combine lies with manipulation of the "debate" onto false choices and myths that they themselves have created.








1. Public sector pensions are "too generous"




Surely this can only be answered by considering whether the pension does its job: provides a decent standard of living for a retired worker. On this measure no public sector pension is "too generous". The average pension for ordinary civil servants is just £4,200 a year. The average pension in the education sector is £10,000 a year.



The definition of poverty according to the government is living on less than 60% of the median income (£15,568 a year in 2010). No public sector pension gets close to this level.





2. Public sector pensions are "unfair" to workers in the private sector
True, 'Fred the Shred' Goodwin of bank collapse fame, for example, got £16 million. But most private sector workers get a raw deal on pensions. This is because the Tories already helped big business to decimate their pensions. Now they present the private sector as typical of some "natural" pension level, rather than a conscious pro-big business policy choice 20 years ago.





The Con-Dems will even argue that the tax paid by private sector workers is directly funding public sector pensions. But no government ear-marks funds in this way. Again, it is a pro-big business choice by the Con-Dems to cut taxes on bankers and the super-rich.




A successful campaign to defend public sector pensions must simultaneously be the launch point for a campaign to win back the pension rights of private sector workers. We're not falling for the divide and rule myth.






3. The country can no longer afford "gold-plated" public sector pensions






Arguments about the "national interest" include the following variants: "the public sector is too big", "the public debt is too high", "we're living too long" etc, etc. In other words, we should all take a hit for "the good of the country".




But currently public sector pensions are 1.9% of GDP. According to Lord Hutton's report this proportion will fall to 1.4% by 2060 without making a single change! The teachers' pension pot is self-funding, requiring no money from elsewhere.






The claim that we are living longer is another cover-up for Con-Dem policy choices. There is huge wealth in society that could fund earlier retirement on a living pension for all workers in the public and private sectors. The problem is that it is all locked away with the super-rich. The richest 1,000 people in Britain have £395 billion between them.





Socialist policies that took such vast wealth into democratic public ownership and spent it to the benefit of all would mean we could live into our hundreds without worrying about the "affordibility" of pensions.






4. "We're all in this together"
We have arrived at the big lie that explains the half-truths and obfuscations of the other pitiful arguments: "we are all in this together".








The attack on public sector pensions is part of a broader effort to make the working class pay for the crisis of capitalism. In the biggest rip-off in history the politicians are trying to let the banks and financial markets get away without contributing a penny to fix the economy they wrecked. Instead they think they can make the working class pay.






But of course they can't say that to us plainly and that explains the Houdini style contortions in the "debate" on public sector pensions...





For more information about the Socialist Party:





http://www.socialist


party.org.uk/main/Ho


me””

Guy Smiley,





Q. Where are the Socialist Worker (SWP) contributions contained within this thread?




A. There aren't any!! LOL...




Your clearly held rabid hatred of trade unions that are effectively fighting the Con-Dem's savage austerity programme of cuts has led you to hallucinate!!






After witnessing the marvellous and historic show of strength displayed by the 800,000 workers striking together on June 30th.....perhaps you need to go and lie down in a darkened room!!

Although, quite how you will bear up under the strain of a potential four million public sector general strike later this year will leave quite a few of your fellow Con-Dem advocates and apologists, with some serious cause for concern!! Perhaps you should stock up on the tranquilisers!!LOL







For more information or to join the Socialist Party cut and paste the following link into your web browser:


http://www.socialist party.org.uk/main/Ho
me

TauntonSocialistPart
y wrote:
Guy Smiley, Q. Where are the Socialist Worker (SWP) contributions contained within this thread? A. There aren't any!! LOL... Your clearly held rabid hatred of trade unions that are effectively fighting the Con-Dem's savage austerity programme of cuts has led you to hallucinate!! After witnessing the marvellous and historic show of strength displayed by the 800,000 workers striking together on June 30th.....perhaps you need to go and lie down in a darkened room!! Although, quite how you will bear up under the strain of a potential four million public sector general strike later this year will leave quite a few of your fellow Con-Dem advocates and apologists, with some serious cause for concern!! Perhaps you should stock up on the tranquilisers!!LOL For more information or to join the Socialist Party cut and paste the following link into your web browser: http://www.socialist party.org.uk/main/Ho me

What 800,000 workers striking? Was that Greece perhaps? According to numerous independent sources only 130 to 150,000 workers actually came out on strike in this country and that's probably the same amount who voted to strike in the first place as the majority abstained and did not strike, in fact a large number of union members actually turned up for work and as a whole the strike had very little effect on the country.
Solidarity eh!

creecher wrote:

TauntonSocialistPart y wrote: Guy Smiley, Q. Where are the Socialist Worker (SWP) contributions contained within this thread? A. There aren't any!! LOL... Your clearly held rabid hatred of trade unions that are effectively fighting the Con-Dem's savage austerity programme of cuts has led you to hallucinate!! After witnessing the marvellous and historic show of strength displayed by the 800,000 workers striking together on June 30th.....perhaps you need to go and lie down in a darkened room!! Although, quite how you will bear up under the strain of a potential four million public sector general strike later this year will leave quite a few of your fellow Con-Dem advocates and apologists, with some serious cause for concern!! Perhaps you should stock up on the tranquilisers!!LOL For more information or to join the Socialist Party cut and paste the following link into your web browser: http://www.socialist party.org.uk/main/Ho me

What 800,000 workers striking? Was that Greece perhaps? According to numerous independent sources only 130 to 150,000 workers actually came out on strike in this country and that's probably the same amount who voted to strike in the first place as the majority abstained and did not strike, in fact a large number of union members actually turned up for work and as a whole the strike had very little effect on the country. Solidarity eh!

Creecher,

Your 'sources' may well be 'various' (despite the fact that you haven't bothered to identify a single one of them !)

That said however, your media 'sources' can not possibly be 'independent' of their multi-billionaire owners' poitical views, opinions or ideological standpoint!

Even the CNN (not generally noted as being a 'loony lefty' newsgroup!!) reported 'three quarters of a million on strike' in its webcast.

To see the CNN webcast, cut and paste the following link into your web browser:

http://edition.cnn.c
om/2011/BUSINESS/06/
30/uk.strike/index.h
tml



The Financial Times (the public daily journal of the capitalist class) predicted at least six hundred thousand to join the strike!

The Financial Times can of course afford to be a little more accurate in its reportage and analysis because they know that the mass of workers don't generally read it.

To all workers engaged in the struggle to defeat the Con-Dem's austerity programme of savage cuts, I would recommend reading the highly illuminating FT ...on the one condition; that they also read it in conjunction with the highly informative and instuctive 'Socialist' and 'Socialism Today', the weekly paper and monthly journal respectively of the Socialist Party.

For more information about the Socialist Party:

http://www.socialist
party.org.uk/main/Ho
me

TauntonSocialistPart
y wrote:

creecher wrote:

TauntonSocialistPart y wrote: Guy Smiley, Q. Where are the Socialist Worker (SWP) contributions contained within this thread? A. There aren't any!! LOL... Your clearly held rabid hatred of trade unions that are effectively fighting the Con-Dem's savage austerity programme of cuts has led you to hallucinate!! After witnessing the marvellous and historic show of strength displayed by the 800,000 workers striking together on June 30th.....perhaps you need to go and lie down in a darkened room!! Although, quite how you will bear up under the strain of a potential four million public sector general strike later this year will leave quite a few of your fellow Con-Dem advocates and apologists, with some serious cause for concern!! Perhaps you should stock up on the tranquilisers!!LOL For more information or to join the Socialist Party cut and paste the following link into your web browser: http://www.socialist party.org.uk/main/Ho me

What 800,000 workers striking? Was that Greece perhaps? According to numerous independent sources only 130 to 150,000 workers actually came out on strike in this country and that's probably the same amount who voted to strike in the first place as the majority abstained and did not strike, in fact a large number of union members actually turned up for work and as a whole the strike had very little effect on the country. Solidarity eh!

Creecher, Your 'sources' may well be 'various' (despite the fact that you haven't bothered to identify a single one of them !) That said however, your media 'sources' can not possibly be 'independent' of their multi-billionaire owners' poitical views, opinions or ideological standpoint! Even the CNN (not generally noted as being a 'loony lefty' newsgroup!!) reported 'three quarters of a million on strike' in its webcast. To see the CNN webcast, cut and paste the following link into your web browser: http://edition.cnn.c om/2011/BUSINESS/06/ 30/uk.strike/index.h tml The Financial Times (the public daily journal of the capitalist class) predicted at least six hundred thousand to join the strike! The Financial Times can of course afford to be a little more accurate in its reportage and analysis because they know that the mass of workers don't generally read it. To all workers engaged in the struggle to defeat the Con-Dem's austerity programme of savage cuts, I would recommend reading the highly illuminating FT ...on the one condition; that they also read it in conjunction with the highly informative and instuctive 'Socialist' and 'Socialism Today', the weekly paper and monthly journal respectively of the Socialist Party. For more information about the Socialist Party: http://www.socialist party.org.uk/main/Ho me

As all you do is copy and paste socialist c**p on your site i don't think your in a position to judge anyone else and may i be so bold as to suggest that just for a while you take off your blinkers and stop reading the Morning Star and have a look around on the Internet at the great deal of independent(not capitalist) websites out there to broaden your very narrow mind.
You quoted the independent and as they said "they predicted six hundred thousand to join the strike" that is a little different to saying 600,000 joined the strike, you also didn't respond to what effect the strike had on the country.
Please try and use your grey matter to respond and for once not rely on copy and paste.

This local discussion has now descended into no more than a slagging match
between Socialists and Creecher with nothing of substance being achieved. If
this is perpetuated nation-wide the original grievance about public sector
pension reform will be forgotten with the result that the present government
will most probably be able to force unpalatable and possibly inequitable
legislation onto the statute book. Time to rethink.

St. Austell wrote:
This local discussion has now descended into no more than a slagging match between Socialists and Creecher with nothing of substance being achieved. If this is perpetuated nation-wide the original grievance about public sector pension reform will be forgotten with the result that the present government will most probably be able to force unpalatable and possibly inequitable legislation onto the statute book. Time to rethink.

Good if they want to keep their pensions let them pay for it and join the rest of us

creecher wrote:

St. Austell wrote:
This local discussion has now descended into no more than a slagging match between Socialists and Creecher with nothing of substance being achieved. If this is perpetuated nation-wide the original grievance about public sector pension reform will be forgotten with the result that the present government will most probably be able to force unpalatable and possibly inequitable legislation onto the statute book. Time to rethink.

Good if they want to keep their pensions let them pay for it and join the rest of us

Perhaps Creecher should understand that despite my first wife and I having congenital cerebral palsy we took the best pensionable employment that was available to us at the time, which in my case was in the public service, knowing our requirements in old age. Having done so we were content with less emoluments than were available in other pursuits at the time. We would not have taken kindly if our expectations of pensions had been changed because of bad financial management on the part of inept politicians. From what I read Creecher aught to do something positive rather than bemoan his/her position and find a way to provide for his/her old age otherwise direct his comment elsewhere remembering that even in the old communist countries everyone was expected to work or starve.

St. Austell wrote:

creecher wrote:

St. Austell wrote: This local discussion has now descended into no more than a slagging match between Socialists and Creecher with nothing of substance being achieved. If this is perpetuated nation-wide the original grievance about public sector pension reform will be forgotten with the result that the present government will most probably be able to force unpalatable and possibly inequitable legislation onto the statute book. Time to rethink.

Good if they want to keep their pensions let them pay for it and join the rest of us

Perhaps Creecher should understand that despite my first wife and I having congenital cerebral palsy we took the best pensionable employment that was available to us at the time, which in my case was in the public service, knowing our requirements in old age. Having done so we were content with less emoluments than were available in other pursuits at the time. We would not have taken kindly if our expectations of pensions had been changed because of bad financial management on the part of inept politicians. From what I read Creecher aught to do something positive rather than bemoan his/her position and find a way to provide for his/her old age otherwise direct his comment elsewhere remembering that even in the old communist countries everyone was expected to work or starve.

Your cerebal palsy has nothing to do with the pension argument and i think you are way out of order using it, i do not want your sympathy as i will earn my own retirment fund and do not expect the general taxpayer to pay for it unlike the public sector, so please if you want to argue don't play the sympathy card.
Finally if you read the article released today by the office on national statistics you would find tat public sector employees are now on 8% than people doing the same jobs in the private sector, i know where my sympathy goes.

Well Creecher it seems that you are well placed earning your retirement fund so why get involved when obviously you have nothing to contribute other than prejudice against all in the public sector civil service, local government, hospital workers, police, armed forces and of course MP's the last mentioned who caused the present pension problems in the first instance for short term expediency in advance of an election - Gordon Brown come out of hiding and answer questions!

When will you grasp the point of my argument which is, do you not think it is unfair too expect hard pressed Britain to pay more into your pension pot and for you not to contribute more whilst they are trying to save for their own retirement without your hep and then to watch you retire at 60 when the rest of us cannot.
If you think that's fine then I'm sorry to say your extremely selfish.